smiser



(No Model.)

J. W. SMISER.

BIER.

No. 476,423 Patented June 7, 1892.

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JAMES TV. SMISER, OF OYNTHIANA, KENTUCKY.

BlER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,423, dated June 7, 1892.

Application filed February 15,1892. Serial No. 421,613. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. SMIsER, of Oynthiana, in the State of Kentucky, have invented ccrtain new and useful Improvements in Bier-s; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full,clear, and exact description of the invention,suoh as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in biers; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aview in perspective of a bier embodying my invention, the drapery usually employed thereon being removed; and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the supporting-legs folded up.

A represents a table or support, rectangular in shape and preferably of a size sufficient to receive a casket. B are the rear wheels, mounted on an axle, the latter being secured to the under side of the U-shaped supports B The forward arms a of the supports B are considerably shorter than the rear arms ct and are secured by knucklejoints with the lower ends of the legs (Z. The upper ends of the legs cl are provided with feet 0, each having one or more holes therein for the passage of the set-screws f. These set-screws are secured in plates f, secured to the under side of the table A, and the plates are provided with threads to receive the setscrews. The longer arms a of the supports 3 are connected at their upper ends by knuckle-joints with the lower ends of the rear legs g. These legs are rigidly secured to the lower face of the table A, and hence it will be seen that by removing the set-screws fand releasing the feet a of the legs d the converging frame formed by the supports B and the longer legs d can be folded up, thus bringing the two wheels at or about the center of the table and in contact therewith. The front supporting-wheel is swiveled at the apex of the triangular or diverging supports h h. The supports 7L are considerably longer than the support 71. and are connected by knuckle-joints to thelower ends of the short legs 2', rigidly secured to the underside of the table. The shorter support his connected by knuckle-joint with the lower end of leg '5, the upper end of which latter is provided with a foot 0 and is removably secured by means of a set-screw c to the under side of the table. Thus it will be seen that by removing thesetscrew 0 the front triangular supportingframe carrying the swiveled wheel 0 can be turned rearwardly until the said wheel rests in contact with the under side of the tableA and in contact therewith.

I prefer when adjusting the parts for transportation to first disconnect and throw back the forward wheel and then disconnect and throw back the frame carrying the two wheels, so that the axle of the latter will rest on orto the outside of the single wheel and hold it in the position shown in Fig. 2.

\Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the entire device can be carried in one hand or under the arm, and by covering the wheels with rubber or other yielding material it is practically noiseless when in use.

By providing the bier with two wheels at the rear and a single swiveled wheel at the front it can be easily guided and propelled by a pressure on the coffin.

It is evident that numerous slight changes in the constructive details of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a table or frame and jointed frames, of Wheels carrying said frames and means for locking the frames in open or operative position.

2. The combination, with a table or support and jointed frames connected therewith, of means for locking said 'jointed frames in open or operative positions, two wheels supporting one of said frames, and a single swiveled wheel supporting the other frame.

3. The combination, with a table or support, a jointed frame secured thereto, and Wheels carrying said jointed frame, of a jointed frame triangular in shape, a single swiveled Wheel supporting same, and means for locking both of said frames in open or operatim positions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES XV. SMISER.

Witnesses:

II. C. FIGHTMASTER, E. \V. SMIsER. 

